Cindy Dees - Night Rescuer стр 3.

He took a calming breath and stepped out casually. Hey, folks.

The woman jumped. Edgy, she was. Hollister jumped, too, and threw a chagrined look past Brady to the storeroom from whence hed just emerged. Brady ignored him and instead nodded pleasantly at the woman-who was a hell of a looker.

Hollister spoke up. The lady, here, wants to have herself delivered to a remote area of Peru. She says there are no roads to where she wants to go, and she prefers a ground insertion to an air insertion.

Bradys eyebrows went up. An unusual request. Peru wasnt exactly the safest place on the planet, particularly back in the mountains. Shining Path guerrillas still roamed the region, not to mention various drug growers and runners, and plain, old-fashioned bandits. Thats a pretty dangerous destination. May I ask why you want to go somewhere like that?

Her expression became closed. Stubborn. She replied smoothly, Its personal. I really cant go into the details.

Fair enough. When do you want to leave?

As soon as possible.

Brady thought fast. All the shrinks had talked to Hollister. Theyd prescribed painkillers and sleeping pills and declared him mildly depressed, but that was to be expected after a traumatic loss like hed experienced. In private to Brady, the shrinks had declared him ready to return to duty. But Hollister had, as of yet, made no move to get himself removed from the injured reserve list. And something Brady couldnt quite put his finger on didnt seem right with John. Hed hesitated to put his old friend back in the field for a couple of months now.

No matter what the docs said about the guy being ready to get back in the saddle, that noose in the back room shouted otherwise. Like many experienced field operators, Hollister apparently could successfully bullshit a psychiatrist.

Brady tapped his front tooth thoughtfully. The fact remained that he had a suicidal operator on his hands. And if Hollister really wanted to kill himself, there wasnt a whole hell of a lot he was going to be able to do to stop the guy. The problem with men like him and Hollister was they were trained in too many forms of killing. There was really no way to stop them from successfully turning that knowledge on themselves if they so chose.

He eyed the woman before him speculatively. Hollister was a responsible guy. Too responsible. It was the reason he was such a mess now. If he put Hollister in charge of getting this woman safely to her destination, the major would take that responsibility seriously. Enough to stay alive and finish the job. He still might kill himself out in the mountains of Peru after the woman was delivered to wherever she wanted to go, but it might buy Brady a little time to figure out how in the hell to talk Hollister into living. It was worth a shot.

Decision made, he announced, Wed be glad to take you to Peru, maam. Cowboy, here, is just the man to escort you there.

Hollisters gaze jerked to him in surprise and denial. Brady blandly ignored the frown and miniscule negative shake of the head that Hollister threw him.

The womans gaze swiveled to Hollister. Her mouth curved up into a sudden and blinding smile. Cowboy? As in John Cowboy?

Hollister glared over at Pirate Pete in the corner. Thats correct. John Hollister, maam. Pleased to meet you.

She held a slender hand across the counter. Melina Montez.

Brady interrupted smoothly. Why dont you go over Miss Montezs travel documents with her and figure out what visas and shots and the like shell need for the trip. In the meantime, Ill have one of the boys bring over your gear, Cowboy.

He damn well wasnt giving John Hollister a second alone until the guy walked out the door with the woman.

Hollister mustve figured that out because he sighed in resignation. Fine. Ill take her to Peru.

But the promise to finish what hed started in the storeroom hung heavy in his voice. Brady made brief eye contact with his best field commander, sending him a silent plea to reconsider. But the look in Hollisters eyes was firm. Implacable.

The guyd made his decision and he wasnt budging. Brady might have delayed the inevitable with this little stunt of sending him to Peru, but inevitable it was.

Dammit.

Chapter 2

Melina was a bit shell-shocked at how quickly these two men verified her travel papers, which shed already secured for Peru. They outfitted her with a backpack and assorted clothing and gear from a local sporting goods store and drove her by Jeep to a long but deserted-looking airstrip. No more than an hour, all told.

The second man-Brady, he called himself-climbed into the pilots seat of a twin-motor, eight-passenger airplane he called a King Air, while Hollister threw their gear in the back and helped her climb in.

Dammit.

Chapter 2

Melina was a bit shell-shocked at how quickly these two men verified her travel papers, which shed already secured for Peru. They outfitted her with a backpack and assorted clothing and gear from a local sporting goods store and drove her by Jeep to a long but deserted-looking airstrip. No more than an hour, all told.